When I was 13 years old, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer.

You never want to hear those words. You don't even know how to react to them. But my mom is strong and she's doing just fine today. She has been clear for 10 years now, which is crazy to think about.

I tell you that story because I want you to know that just like nearly everyone else, my family has been impacted by cancer. Years later, when I was a student at the University of Minnesota, I remember seeing a booth set up on campus to encourage people to join the bone marrow registry. Why not? I swabbed my cheek, shared my contact information and went on with my day.

CHICAGO -- Rob Simpson is holding up well.

Tyler Figueroa-Butler, an 11-year-old leukemia survivor, played a stirring rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" on his violin at PNC Arena on Friday.

Hockey Fights Cancer month is a lot more personal for me than it was when I started at NHL.com 11 years ago.

Welcome to Hockey Fights Cancer, a joint initiative between the NHL and the NHL Players' Association. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the campaign, which unites the hockey community in support of cancer patients and their families.

Here is the latest Hockey Fights Cancer news from around the League.

MONTREAL -- A bow tie, Jeff Petry admits with a chuckle, is a mystery.

LONDON, Ontario -- At first blush, Hayden Foulon's bedroom looks like a shrine to Mitchell Marner.

For Mike (Doc) Emrick, the moment meant so much.

NHL.com's Q&A feature called "Five Questions With …" runs throughout the 2018-19 regular season. We talk to key figures in and around the game and ask them questions to gain insight into their lives, careers and the most recent news.

The latest edition features former NHL forward/current "NHL on NBC" analyst Eddie Olczyk, who fought and beat Stage 3 colon cancer.

Sunday, November 18, the Devils traveled to Carolina for an evening game against the Hurricanes. While the team was on the road, Lauren Boyle, newly named NHL Hockey Fights Cancer Ambassador and wife of Devils forward Brian Boyle, hosted a jewelry party where 30% of all sales benefitted Hockey Fights Cancer.